How far is Evanston, IL from Jackson, IL?

The driving distance from Evanston, IL to Jackson, IL is about 256.3 miles (412.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 229.4 miles (369.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
256.31 mi
05h 47m
Flight
229.4 mi
369.18 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Evanston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
229.4 mi
Kilometers
369.18 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
256.31 mi
Kilometers
412.49 km
Drive Time
05h 47m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jackson
Fri, May 29, 11:09 PM CDT
Return by in Evanston
Sat, May 30, 4:56 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Evanston
2026-05-29T17:21
Arrive Jackson
Fri, May 29, 11:09 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:48 AM to 1:48 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:24 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Evanston
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Bismarck
IL

Village in Newell Township, Vermilion County, Illinois

From Evanston
128.3 mi
02h 53m
To Jackson
128.1 mi
02h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE
Destination
79°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Evanston and Jackson.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Evanston and Jackson.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    60 m · 22 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left

    43 m · 16 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Dempster Street

    65 m · 15 sec · Dempster Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Asbury Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Asbury Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on North Western Avenue

    5.5 mi · 11 min · North Western Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Clybourn Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Clybourn Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Damen Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · North Damen Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Webster Avenue

    42 m · 3 sec · West Webster Avenue

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East

    1008 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Kennedy Expressway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

    10.8 mi · 15 min · Bishop Ford Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue

    2791 ft · 43 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue

    997 ft · 24 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 83 South

    153 m · 12 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Torrence Avenue

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Torrence Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Glenwood Dyer Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Dyer Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    1.6 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Joliet Street

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Joliet Street

  22. 22

    Continue on West Lincoln Highway

    656 ft · 20 sec · West Lincoln Highway

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Wicker Avenue

    58.8 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Wicker Avenue

  24. 24

    Keep slight left

    21.6 mi · 27 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    63.4 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    57.4 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West: Lawrenceville

    1341 ft · 33 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    8.5 mi · 10 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight left

    3141 ft · 1 min

  30. 30

    Turn sharp left

    78 m · 11 sec

  31. 31

    Continue on 990N

    160 m · 11 sec · 990N

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 990N

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Evanston and Jackson.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
32 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Wicker Avenue
201 mi · 78%
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.8 mi · 4%
US 50 West
9.37 mi · 4%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 3%
North Western Avenue
5.53 mi · 2%
Torrence Avenue
3.69 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Wicker Avenue

Continue straight

63.4 mi · 01h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.9 mi
229.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bismarck
02h 53m from Evanston
Leave By
5:24 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Evanston and Partly Sunny near Jackson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Evanston to Jackson?

The road trip is about 256.3 miles (412.5 km) and usually takes 05h 47m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bismarck is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.3 miles from Evanston and 128.1 miles from Jackson.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 229.4 miles (369.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:24 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.13 one way or $68.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Evanston and Partly Sunny near Jackson.

Stop Ideas Near Bismarck

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Bismarck, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bismarck.

BUS

Danville, Illinois

16 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Rantoul

47 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

56 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

63 mi away
1000 Smith Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Evanston and Jackson. Straight-line distance: 229.4 mi (369.18 km).

Evanston

#1 Evanston

A city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population72,683
Coordinates42.0411400, -87.6900600
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Jackson

County in Illinois, United States

Population18,488
Coordinates38.7211600, -87.6503000
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Start: Evanston (-87.69006, 42.04114)
End: Jackson (-87.6503, 38.72116)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 412 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.05 gal
34.24 L · about $34.13
Round trip
$68.26
18.1 gal · 68.48 L
Estimated CO2
80.4 kg one way
Round trip: 160.9 kg / 355 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.13 $68.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.49 $76.98
Premium $4.65 $42.12 $84.24
Diesel $5.30 $48.00 $96.00

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · May 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Evanston and Jackson. The current time is 17:21:33.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.